Turret top blind

ABSTRACT

An improved tent type blind. The improvement is a turret positioned in the roof of the blind, the turret having a top and sides, the sides of the turret attached directly or indirectly to an opening in the roof of the blind, the sides of the turret being made of a transparent material to provide viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to tent type blinds of the type for use by, for example, hunters, wildlife photographers, wildlife observers, bird watchers, policeman and soldiers. There are basically two well-known types of portable tent type blinds. The first is the spring wire “doghouse” blind. The second is the hub blind. The spring wire blind is easily portable and easy to setup but is not as structurally secure as the hub blind. The smaller hub and spring wire blinds offer a low profile design, are preferred by many users for their stealth and stability, but do not allow most occupants the ability to stand, which is a major concern for many hunters. Larger blinds, allow the user to stand and may have some increased “side wall viewing”, but because of their height, can be more difficult to erect and can be less stable in windy conditions. The larger hub blinds are as much as seven feet tall thereby allowing a person in the blind to stand. However, such tall blinds can be unstable in windy conditions. The blind of U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,436 provides a window and permits 360 degree viewing but only through a small window by rotating the blind. The chair and blind combination of U.S. Pat. No. 7,997,291 permits 180 degree viewing from a centrally covered roof structure that is open to the air on three sides. The blind of U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,744 permits 360 degree viewing from an open portion between the sides and top of the blind. However, the blind of the '744 patent does not fully conceal a person in the blind. As with any ground blind product, the users considerations may be price, size, shape, features and personal needs. It would be an advance in the art of tent type blinds if a blind were discovered that permitted 360 degree concealed viewing (hunting , photography, etc.) from a ergonomic standing position with a reduced side exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is a tent blind for concealing a person within the blind, the blind comprising a roof and walls supported by a frame, the roof and walls comprising flexible sheet material, wherein the improvement comprises a turret positioned in the roof of the blind, the turret comprising a top and sides, the sides of the turret attached directly or indirectly to an aperture in the roof of the blind, the sides of the turret comprising a transparent material thereby providing viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention showing the turret thereof in its extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the cap and support structure for the turret of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the blind of FIG. 1 showing the turret thereof in its lowered position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of an alternative support structure for a turret of the instant invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective side view of an alternative turret of the instant invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a spring wire blind incorporating a turret of the instant invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hoop structure for supporting a turret of the instant invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view in full of a turret of the instant invention supported by the hoop structure shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of another hoop structure for supporting a turret of the instant invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view in full of a turret of the instant invention supported by the hoop structure shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another hoop structure for supporting a turret of the instant invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view in full of a turret of the instant invention supported by the hoop structure shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a turret of the instant invention having a collar to attached to a blind by snap connectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, therein is shown a preferred blind 10 of the instant invention. The blind 10 has walls 11 and a roof 12 comprised of a fabric or other flexible sheet material supported by an underlying pole structure. A turret comprised of a cap 13 comprised, for example, of fiber board or molded plastic, a thinly woven fabric 14 and a collar 15 attached to an opening in the roof 12 of the blind. Referring now to FIG. 2, therein is shown a perspective side view of the cap 13 and collar 15 for the turret shown in FIG. 1. Rods 16 support the cap 13 and are indented to engage with the collar 15 to hold the cap 13 in its extended position and to allow the cap 13 to be lowered when desired. Rods 17 support the roof of the blind and are shown broken away at the distal ends thereof. Referring now to FIG. 3, therein is shown a perspective side view of the blind 10 of FIG. 1 with the cap 13 in the lowered position. Referring again to FIG. 1, a person within the blind 10 is concealed from the outside. Such person can place his or her head inside the turret of the blind with a 360 degree view around the blind through the thinly woven fabric 14. The thinly woven fabric 14 is preferably the type of fabric screen material as is used in tent windows but can be metal screen or more broadly can be any material that is transparent. A highly preferred material for the sides of the turret is a thinly woven fabric screen having a camouflage pattern thereon when viewed from a distance but permitting viewing through the material from within the turret.

It should be understood that the instant invention is an improved blind. The improvement is the turret attached to the roof of the blind. The blind upon which the turret is placed can be any tent type blind of the prior art. As such the blind can have entrance ways, windows and floors as desired but such features are not essential to the instant invention. The essential feature of the instant invention is the turret. The turret not only provides a 360 degree view around the blind, the turret also permits a decrease in the side area of the blind. A turret that can be lowered as shown in FIG. 3 is highly preferred but not essential in the instant invention. Although not preferred, a portion of the sides of the turret of the instant invention can be made of a non-transparent material.

Referring now to FIG. 4, therein is shown an alternative support structure for a turret of the instant invention comprising a ring 20, hoops 21 and support rods 22 shown broken away at the distal ends thereof. Support rods 22 support the roof of the blind while the hoops 21 support the alternative turret shown in FIG. 5. Referring now to FIG. 5, therein is shown an alternative turret comprised of a cap 24 made of flexible sheet material and thinly woven fabric 25. It should be understood that the cap of the turret of the instant invention can be the same transparent material as used in the sides of the turret even though a sun and rain proof cap material is more preferred. Referring now to FIG. 6, therein is shown a turret comprised of a cap 27, collar 29 and thinly woven fabric 28 in the roof of a “doghouse” blind 26. A “doghouse” blind comprises a number of spring-pole hoops that can be folded together to collapse the blind for convenient carrying and storage. When the spring-pole hoops of a “doghouse” blind are unfolded, the hoops spring open so that the blind is self-erecting.

Referring now to FIG. 7, therein is shown the underlying pole structure for a blind comprising a central roof hub 30 and roof support rods 31 for supporting the roof fabric of a blind. Swivel bases 32 are shown attached to rods 31 by clips 32 a. Hoops 33, 34 and 35 are attached at the ends thereof to the swivel bases 32. Referring now to FIG. 8, therein is shown a side view in full of a turret of the instant invention supported by the hoop structure shown in FIG. 7. The turret comprises a screen portion 39 and a cap portion 40. The turret is positioned on the roof 38 of the blind 36 above the walls 37 of the blind 36, the bottom edge of the side 39 of the turret being sewn to the edge of a corresponding aperture in the roof 38 of the blind 36.

Referring now to FIG. 9, therein is shown the underlying pole structure for a blind comprising central roof hub 41, roof poles 42, corner poles 43 and side poles 44. Hoops 45 and 46 are attached at the ends thereof to the roof poles 42 and the side poles 44. Referring now to FIG. 10 therein is shown a side view in full of a turret of the instant invention supported by the hoop structure shown in FIG. 9. The turret comprises a screen portion 50 and a cap portion 51. The turret is positioned on the roof 49 of the blind 47 above the walls 48 of the blind 47, the bottom edge of the side 50 of the turret being sewn to the edge of a corresponding aperture in the roof 49 of the blind 47.

Referring now to FIG. 11, therein is shown a crossed pair of spring wire poles 52 and 53. Referring now to FIG. 12, therein is shown a side view in full of a turret of the instant invention supported by the spring wire pole structure shown in FIG. 11. The turret comprises a screen portion 57 and a cap portion 58. The turret is positioned on the roof 56 of the blind 54 above the walls 55 of the blind 54, the bottom edge of the side 57 of the turret being sewn to the edge of a corresponding aperture in the roof 56 of the blind 54. The turret embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is especially convenient to set up because the bulbous shape of the turret holds the spring wire poles in position after they have been bent into shape and inserted into the turret.

Referring now to FIG. 13, therein is shown a perspective view of a turret 59 of the instant invention having a collar 62 adapted to be attached to a blind like the blind shown in FIG. 1 by snap connectors 63. Turret 59 comprises a see-through fabric portion 61 and a cap portion 60.

A primary benefit of the turret blind of the instant invention is the sense of space and light provided to the user. Most blinds of the prior art have zippered or VELCRO operated windows that offer only limited viewing and are noisy to open and close. A blind of the prior art that is high enough to permit the user to stand is more difficult to conceal and more likely to be buffeted by wind. The turret top blind of the instant invention can have shorter sides, be easier to conceal and be more stable in wind. Other primary benefits of the turret blind of the instant invention are it's ergonomic physical advantages for the user. Obvious benefits for the back and neck associated with twisting and bending in poor posture seated positions. These motions are required in any typical ground blind and can be painful and harmful to the user. In addition, the economical ergonomic superior viewing from the stealthy location of a stationary turret while maintaining proper posture which allows a compact and stable profile for the blind, while offering greater comfort and function to the user. When desired, a weatherproof sleeve can be applied to the sides of the turret, the sleeve being made of a material to block weather intrusion into the blind, to block scent from escaping the blind and to prevent silhouetting. A highly preferred material for such a sleeve would be the same flexible sheet material used for the sides and roof the blind. Such a sleeve can be rolled up at the bottom or the top of the turret when not in use.

CONCLUSION

While the instant invention has been described above and claimed below according to its preferred embodiments, it can be modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the instant invention using the general principles disclosed herein. For example, the turret of the instant invention can comprise an inflatable support structure such as is used for inflatable beech toys. Further, the instant application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tent blind for concealing a person within the blind, the blind comprising a roof and walls supported by a frame, the roof and walls comprising flexible sheet material, wherein the improvement comprises a turret positioned in the roof of the blind, the turret comprising a top and sides, the sides of the turret attached directly or indirectly to an aperture in the roof of the blind, the sides of the turret comprising a transparent material to provide viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.
 2. The blind of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises spring-pole hoops.
 3. The blind of claim 1, wherein the transparent material comprises a thinly woven fabric.
 4. The blind of claim 2, wherein the transparent material comprises a thinly woven fabric.
 5. The blind of claim 1, wherein the top and sides of the turret are made of a flexible sheet material supported by a plurality of hoops.
 6. The blind of claim 5, wherein the turret has a bulbous shape and the hoops comprise spring poles.
 7. The blind of claim 1, wherein the sides of the turret are made of the transparent material thereby providing 360 degree viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.
 8. The blind of claim 2, wherein the sides of the turret are made of the transparent material thereby providing 360 degree viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.
 9. The blind of claim 3, wherein the sides of the turret are made of the transparent material thereby providing 360 degree viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.
 10. The blind of claim 4, wherein the sides of the turret are made of the transparent material thereby providing 360 degree viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.
 11. The blind of claim 5, wherein the sides of the turret are made of the transparent material thereby providing 360 degree viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.
 12. The blind of claim 6, wherein the sides of the turret are made of the transparent material thereby providing 360 degree viewing from within the blind through the transparent material.
 13. The blind of claim 1, further comprising a weatherproof sleeve applied to the sides of the turret, the sleeve being made of a material to block weather intrusion into the blind, to block scent from escaping the blind and to prevent silhouetting.
 14. The blind of claim 10, further comprising a weatherproof sleeve applied to the sides of the turret, the sleeve being made of a material to block weather intrusion into the blind, to block scent from escaping the blind and to prevent silhouetting.
 15. The blind of claim 11, further comprising a weatherproof sleeve applied to the sides of the turret, the sleeve being made of a material to block weather intrusion into the blind, to block scent from escaping the blind and to prevent silhouetting.
 16. The blind of claim 12, further comprising a weatherproof sleeve applied to the sides of the turret, the sleeve being made of a material to block weather intrusion into the blind, to block scent from escaping the blind and to prevent silhouetting. 